It does get better.

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I've been told by a therapist that my habit of playing games I don't enjoy on days that I already feel terrible in, and taking out all the frustration I am facing on anyone playing with me is an unhealthy coping mechanism. You should be playing games to have fun, and if you're reading this message and any of this sounds familiar to you, maybe you should also take a quick step back and reflect - "Does this game provide me enjoyment anymore? Or am I treating it like an addiction that I HAVE to keep going?"

As someone who's suffering from a TBI / PCS, I'm finding myself challenged by my previous attitudes towards video games, where frustrations mount upon frustrations - anger leads to high blood pressure, which doesn't mix well with a brain injury. So, I've got some handy tips I've learned from my own experiences to hopefully help prevent blowouts and improve your mental health.

1. Try changing the scope of your objective - if you're frustrated with losing too much, change your win condition.

2. Try taking games less seriously - play in unique and fun ways, encourage others to do the same, avoid competitive queues for a little while, maybe find some friends to play that game with!

3. If you feel compelled to play a game because of FOMO with all these battle passes and events, try taking a step back from the event, and thinking a lot about "what in this do I actually want? Is it worth it to hurt myself for this?" Work together with friends or in LFG groups to get towards that reward faster and you'll enjoy spending time with friends while you get there!

4. Anger is the underlying emotion behind toxic behaviors like BMing, trash talking, throwing games, or generally playing to make people miserable. Don't seethe with anger, and if you see someone who's angry, just understand that these behaviors are a coping mechanism - they are probably having a terrible day. Maybe try providing them resources for help like the phone numbers above!

5. Have fun! If you're playing a game, and not having fun, try to find out why you're not having fun - boil it down to it's simplest principles, and find a way around those obstacles. Did the devs patch the game and its not fun anymore? Play a different game for a little while and come back to see if it's fixed later. Are there just too many jerks in your games? Try finding a group to play with and maintain a positive atmosphere with them.

6. Lastly, if a game still just isn't fun for you, or it's just making you too angry, angry even when surrounded by friends, angry when you try changing how you approach the game - maybe that's not a game you should be playing. Find something better to play!

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Let's strive towards making our gaming communities a more positive place - mental health is something that affects everyone.

19.9% of people experience mental illness.
12.0% of people have anger management issues.
7.4% of people have an addiction.
4.0% of people have had a suicidal thought.

More than 75% of people who seek help for their mental well-being see improvements.